Spirituality is something that many within the realms of black metal dare to try and bring to the table with very few able to get a real grasp on it in such a way that feels fully fleshed out, compelling, and comes across in no less than stupendous fashion for a metal vessel. Typically taking a dark form that doesn’t have much to it, I can easily say that it’s always a pleasure to see a band actually pull it off and come out on top. In no small way, Cloak has been succeeding at that very majesty virtually since day one. Their particular blend of black metal and gothic influences have always made for quite a potent performance. Their third opus immediately stood tall simply by association, but it’s through the defiance of needing to pick sides or stand as some pathetic tribe that serve as a thin veil for ulterior motives that this creation stands as Cloak’s most aggressive, forward, and invoking creation to date.

For Cloak, their music as always been a way of tapping into the realms of life, death, and beyond. Their previous two full-lengths had undeniable ties to the spiritual realms in such a way that could often feel ever so pragmatic at times, but it’s through the performances at large that Cloak kept us coming back as the very allure of the other side continued to beckon. In the crafting of “Black Flame Eternal”, a clear change in direction was made despite the same core values playing a heavy part in what’s taking place. A pure embodiment of what it means to stand tall on your own, never once falling to peer pressure or compromising your ideals, “Black Flame Eternal” serves to make the individual the truest that it can be. The truths that many may deem unsavory are brought forward by Cloak in a fantastic display of power that’s driven by massive riffs, unyielding passages through the subconscious, and what’s likely the most intense that the band has been in years. Still deadly with their gothic touch that permeates each facet of their presence, “Black Flame Eternal” is never scared to grab the listener by the throat and make them see what is right beyond their grasp in the ethereal world where Cloak thrives like incredibly few other acts out there where their essences burns dark, their auras nigh-on compelling, and their mastery over their craft certainly undeniable.

The self is constantly at the forefront of all that Cloak brings to the table here, and there’s no way to deny the awesome power with which “Black Flame Eternal” holds within its 49-minute runtime. In damn near every capacity, this stands as Cloak’s crowning achievement. From the themes to the execution to the wide array of elements that all come together dramatically to make “Black Flame Eternal” a real powerhouse of a creation, this is an album whose ferocity cannot be silenced nor ignored.

LISTEN to “Black Flame Eternal” on Bandcamp here.

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